Popular Physics
I discuss the symmetry of fullerenes, viruses and geodesic domes within a unified framework of icosadeltahedral representation of these objects. The icosadeltahedral symmetry is explained in details by examination of all of these…
Civilization cannot sustain an exponential growth for long time even when neglecting numerous laws of physics! In this paper, we examine what are fundamental obstacles to long term survival of a civilization and its possibility to colonize…
We review the recent confirmation of quantum entanglement in e+ e- collisions at the BELLE experiment at KEK-B in Japan with neutral B- mesons, and at the KLOE experiment at the DAFNE in Italy with neutral K- mesons. Such effects in the…
New technologies based on the exploitation of so-called "second order" quantum phenomena - such as quantum entanglement - deserve a public-friendly, rational, and sexy name. Spookytechnology is that unifying term. From historical and…
Solitons emerge as non-perturbative solutions of non-linear wave equations in classical and quantum theories. These are non-dispersive and localised packets of energy-remarkable properties for solutions of non-linear differential equations.…
A method is presented for generation of a subwavelength (0.43 lambda) longitudinally polarized beam, which propagates without divergence over lengths of about 4 lambda in free space. This is achieved by controlling the amplitude, phase and…
We review the recent discoveries of rare oscillation phenomena in certain heavy neutral meson systems.
Alice and Bob use Aravind's version of a Bell-Kochen-Specker paradox to fend off awkward questions about what exactly they were doing in Amsterdam last week.
Physicists study a wide variety of phenomena creating new interdisciplinary research fields by applying theories and methods originally developed in physics in order to solve problems in economics, social science, biology, medicine,…
We introduce a Bayesian mean-value approach for ranking all college football teams using only win-loss data. This approach is unique in that the prior distribution necessary to handle undefeated and winless teams is calculated…
This brief article discusses some aspects of quantum theory and their impact on popular culture. The basic features of quantum entanglement between two or more parties are introduced in a language suitable for a general audience, and…
The interpretation of an experimental realization of Wheeler's delayed-choice gedanken experiment is discussed and called into question.
In this paper we examine the detailed theory of the American football in flight, with spin and air resistance included. We find the theory has much in common with the theory of a gyroscope and also rocket trajectory with a misaligned…
At the recent 1999 World Athletics Championships in Sevilla, Spain, Canada's Bruny Surin matched Donovan Bailey's National and former World Record 100 m mark of 9.84 s. The unofficial times for each, as read from the photo-finish, were…
This is a Physics World features paper on Chen-Tajima proposal to detect Unruh radiation by means of high-intensity lasers (PRL 83, 256 (1999)).
We measure the difference in the scattering probability when an experiment scattering longitudinally polarized 221 MeV protons from liquid hydrogen is replaced by its mirror image. The result depends on the interplay between the weak and…
The outbreak of spontaneous order in matter results from symmetry breaking. How does a system change its collective organisation ? How does it break its own symmetry ? That are the questions which are answered using a metaphoric world of…
The note presents a formula for the prediction of the rotation periods of the planets and asteroids. This formula, which is like the Titius-Bode law, gives a good agreement with the rotation periods of most planets, shows that Venus is…
This article briefly reviews the quantum Hall effect and the contributions of the winners of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Track and field world records have risen and fallen throughout the history of the sport. A recent rash of record-breaking performances has prompted the question: "How good can we get?". This article offers a review of several attempts to…